Novel AP-1 binding site created by DNA-methylation

DNA-methylation is known to repress transcription either by inactivation of positive regulatory cis-elements containing CpG dinucleotides or via the sequence-nonspecific and methylation-specific binding of inhibiting methyl-CpG binding protein 1 (MeCP1). In the present work we describe the novel way DNA-methylation can influence gene expression: a binding site for transcription factors AP-1 might be created by DNA-methylation. Such a DNA-methylation-dependent AP-1 binding site was found in the first intron of the metastasis-associated mts1 gene. The expression level of this gene correlates with the hypomethylation of the mts1 first intron sequence in mouse adenocarcinoma cells. The DNA methylation-dependent AP-1 binding site was found to be functionally active in the nucleotide context of the mts1 gene. When methylated, this site reproducibly repressed transcription of CAT-containing DNA that had been transiently transfected into mouse adenocarcinoma CSML100 cells.